Police: Murder-suicide eyed in Pa. nursing home

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

CLARKS SUMMIT, Pa. (AP) — A staff nurse apparently shot a 79-year-old resident to death at the northeastern Pennsylvania nursing home where she worked and then turned the gun on herself, authorities said.

He said investigators don't know whether the weapon was hers, and the motive of what authorities are calling an apparent murder-suicide is unknown.

"We're actively investigating this, conducting a lot of interviews, but right now we're at a loss, actually, as to what the motive was," he told The Associated Press.

Gerrity said the nurse had worked there since 2011, and Kinney, of Overfield Township, had lived there for about two years. It's unclear whether their relationship went beyond that of caregiver and patient, he said.

"It's a very bizarre incident," he said.

Jeanne Moore, a spokeswoman for the nursing home just north of Scranton, said in a statement that officials were shocked.

"We are cooperating fully with law enforcement officials at this time and are hopeful that their efforts will help us to understand this tragedy," she said, declining further comment beyond saying that officials "are focused on the well-being of our patients, residents and staff."

Abington Manor provides short- and long-term care for elderly residents and people with chronic or prolonged illness, according to owner Genesis HealthCare.